Citations

A study in human subjects links the obesogenic effects of fructose with hunger and appetite regulation in the brain.

BACKGROUNDThe Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology has recently published a new proposal for pancreaticobiliary cytology terminology. For the current study, the authors applied this new classification for pancreaticobiliary cytology to a set of previously diagnosed endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) samples and correlated the results with those from the corresponding available final surgical specimens.METHODSPancreatic FNA specimens were retrospectively collected from a 12‐month period at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Cases with cytohistologic disagreement were reviewed to assess the reasons for discrepancies. The sensitivity and specificity of EUS‐FNA specimens were assessed using the Pearson chi‐square test.RESULTSOne hundred fifty‐five pancreatic FNA specimens were retrieved. The median patient age was 70 years (range, 25‐93 years). Eleven specimens previously classified as negative and 3 previously classified as non‐diagnostic were reclassified as neoplastic:other, as well as all specimens primarily classified as atypical or positive for neoplasm and half the specimens primarily classified as suspicious. All positive specimens remained within their same categories in the revised classification. Sixteen patients (10.3%) had surgical resection specimens available, and complete or partial agreement with FNA results was achieved in 13 of those surgical specimens (81.2%). Reasons for discrepancy comprised sampling errors in 5 specimens and an interpretation error in 1 specimen. Overall, sensitivity was 66.7%, specificity was 66.7%, the positive predictive value was 88.9%, and the negative predictive value was 33.3%.CONCLUSIONSThe application of the new proposed terminology for pancreaticobiliary cytology had a greater impact among specimens that were previously classified as atypical and suspicious. EUS‐FNA of the pancreas is a highly accurate method, and its use, allied with the new proposed terminology, may ultimately contribute to better outcomes. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015;123:488–94. © 2015 American Cancer Society.

Recently, a model was proposed to assess hepatic insulin sensitivity during a meal, i.e., the ability of insulin to suppress glucose production (EGP), SIP. The model was developed on EGP data obtained from a triple-tracer meal and the tracer-to-tracee clamp technique and validated against the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. The aim of this study was to assess whether SIP can be obtained from plasma concentrations measured after a single-tracer meal by incorporating the above EGP model into the oral glucose minimal model by describing both glucose production and disposal (OMMPD). Triple-tracer meal data of two databases (20 healthy and 60 healthy and prediabetic subjects) were used. Virtually model-independent EGP estimates were calculated. OMMPD was identified on exogenous and endogenous glucose concentrations, providing indices of SIP, disposal insulin sensitivity (SID), and EGP. The model fitted the data well, and SIP and SID were estimated with precision in both databases (SIP = 5.48 ± 0.54 10−4 dl·kg−1·min−1 per μU/ml and SID = 9.93 ± 2.18 10−4 dl·kg−1·min−1 per μU/ml in healthy; SIP = 5.41 ± 3.55 10−4 dl·kg−1·min−1 per μU/ml and SID = 5.34 ± 6.17 10−4 dl·kg−1·min−1 per μU/ml, in healthy and prediabetic subjects). Estimated SIP and that derived from the triple-tracer EGP model were very similar on average. Moreover, the time course of EGP normalized to basal EGP (EGPb), and EGP/EGPb agreed with the results obtained using the triple-tracer method. In this study, we have demonstrated that SIP, SID, and EGP/EGPb time course can be estimated reliably from a single-tracer meal protocol in both healthy and prediabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Although under-reported and understudied, unplanned extubations carry a significant risk of patient harm and even death. They are an important yardstick of quality control of care of intubated patients in the ICU. A unit-based risk assessment and multidisciplinary approach is required to decrease the incidence of unplanned extubations. METHODS: As part of a quality-improvement initiative of Children's Hospital at Montefiore, all planned and unplanned extubations in a multidisciplinary 20-bed pediatric ICU were evaluated over a 12-month period (January to December 2010). At the end of 6 months, an interim analysis was performed, and high-risk patient groups and patient care factors were identified. These factors were targeted in the second phase of the project. RESULTS: Over this period, there were a total of 267 extubations, of which 231 (87%) were planned extubations and 36 (13%) were unplanned. A patient care policy targeting the risk factors was instituted, along with extensive nursing and other personnel education in the second phase. As a result of this intervention, the unplanned extubation rate in the pediatric ICU decreased from 3.55 to 2.59/100 intubation days. All subjects who had an unplanned extubation during nursing procedures or transport required re-intubation, whereas none of the unplanned extubations during ventilator weaning required re-intubation. CONCLUSIONS: A targeted approach based on unit-specific risk factors is most effective in quality-improvement projects. A specific policy for sedation and weaning can be very helpful in managing intubated patients and preventing unintended harm.

Abstract Purpose: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma confined to the central nervous system. Whether there is a PCNSL-specific genomic signature and, if so, how it differs from systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is uncertain. Experimental Design: We performed a comprehensive genomic study of tumor samples from 19 immunocompetent PCNSL patients. Testing comprised array-comparative genomic hybridization and whole exome sequencing. Results: Biallelic inactivation of TOX and PRKCD was recurrently found in PCNSL but not in systemic DLBCL, suggesting a specific role in PCNSL pathogenesis. In addition, we found a high prevalence of MYD88 mutations (79%) and CDKN2A biallelic loss (60%). Several genes recurrently affected in PCNSL were common with systemic DLBCL, including loss of TNFAIP3, PRDM1, GNA13, TMEM30A, TBL1XR1, B2M, CD58, activating mutations of CD79B, CARD11, and translocations IgH-BCL6. Overall, B-cell receptor/Toll-like receptor/NF-κB pathways were altered in >90% of PNCSL, highlighting its value for targeted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, integrated analysis showed enrichment of pathways associated with immune response, proliferation, apoptosis, and lymphocyte differentiation. Conclusions: In summary, genome-wide analysis uncovered novel recurrent alterations, including TOX and PRKCD, helping to differentiate PCNSL from systemic DLBCL and related lymphomas. Clin Cancer Res; 21(17); 3986–94. ©2015 AACR.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the clinical outcomes of a series of patients aged 60 years or older who underwent hip arthroscopy for labral tears with minimum 2‐year follow‐up and (2) identify risk factors for conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods Outcome data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed in patients aged 60 years or older who underwent hip arthroscopy between April 2008 and May 2012. Four patient‐reported outcome (PRO) scores, pain scores, and satisfaction ratings were collected. Conversion to THA and revision surgery rates were recorded. A subgroup analysis compared survivors with patients requiring THA. Results Minimum 2‐year follow‐up was available for 30 patients with a mean age of 63.9 years. The 2‐year survivorship rate was 70%, with 9 patients undergoing conversion to THA at a mean of 1.1 years after hip arthroscopy. Two patients required additional surgery during the study period, for a reoperation rate of 37% (11 of 30 patients). The remaining cohort showed mean improvements in all PRO scores. All scores, except the sports‐related PRO ( P = .12), improved significantly from the preoperative baseline scores. Visual analog scale scores for pain decreased from a mean of 5.0 preoperatively to 2.7 postoperatively ( P = .003). Patients who required conversion to THA had lower preoperative modified Harris Hip Scores ( P = .015), lower preoperative Hip Outcome Score–Activity of Daily Living values ( P = .01), higher pain scores ( P = .05), greater acetabular inclination ( P = .023), and more severe chondral damage ( P = .033). Conclusions Arthroscopic treatment of labral tears in patients aged 60 years or older should be approached with caution. Patients in this age group had an overall 2‐year survivorship rate of 70% and should be counseled before surgery on the possibility of subsequent conversion to THA. Patients aged 60 years or older with poor preoperative PRO scores, high pain scores, radiographic evidence of borderline dysplasia, and severe chondral damage may be poor candidates for hip arthroscopy. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Purpose: To describe an endovascular technique for treating a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta using an off-label “hourglass” stent-graft configuration. Case Report: A 68-year-old patient with prior open thoracic aorta coarctation repair presented with recurrent coarctation and concurrent enlarging 6-cm bilobed pseudoaneurysm involving the previous anastomosis. There was significant discrepancy in the aortic diameter (measured from wall to wall) proximal to the coarctation (14 mm), at the narrowest segment (8 mm), and distally (23 mm). Endovascular repair included deployment of an inverted iliac limb proximally, followed by an inverted aortic converter distally, giving an “hourglass” configuration. There were no perioperative or stent-graft–related complications at 5-year follow-up. The aneurysm regressed from 61 to 25 mm. Conclusion: The use of inverted stent-grafts can allow tapering and flaring to adapt to discrepant aortic diameters. This technique may be useful in select patients with prior coarctation repair who do not need excessive dilation of the narrow aortic segment.

Perineal leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer with a high metastatic potential and no defined standard treatment. There are only a few (six) reported cases in the literature. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with a perineal leiomyosarcoma arising at the same site of a previously resected superficial angiomyxoma. Initially, she was treated for a presumptive recurrence of angiomyxoma. As she did not respond to medical therapy, she underwent repeat surgical excision. Pathology revealed a high grade leiomyosarcoma, histologically strikingly distinct from the initial diagnosis. She received adjuvant local radiation therapy, and remains without evidence of recurrent disease 36 months after completion of all therapy. This is the first reported case of a high grade perineal leiomyosarcoma originating at the same site as a resected benign superficial angiomyxoma. Our case emphasizes the necessity of a prompt histological diagnosis in cases of presumed recurrent perineal angiomyxoma.

Odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma (OGCC) is a rare and aggressive tumor wherein optimal treatment remains uncertain. We report the first pediatric metastatic OGCC case treated with multimodal therapy: surgery, adjuvant chemoradiation, and adjuvant immunotherapy. Adjuvant therapy was utilized due to locally advanced disease with pathologic features indicative of high recurrence risk. This multimodal approach was modeled after management of primary head and neck cancer, where adjuvant chemoradiation and immunotherapy are associated with improved outcomes. Our patient is alive and disease free at 14 months indicating a potentially positive role for multimodal therapy in the management of OGCC.